page_title: LGBT rights in the District of Columbia
section_title: Discrimination protections
hierarchical_section_title: LGBT rights in the District of Columbia / Discrimination protections
caption_attribution_description: English: Kaiser Permanente, the United States' largest non-profit health system, is a silver sponsor for Capital Pride DC, in Washington, DC, USA http://capitalpride.org , and invited doctors, nurses, clinicians, staff, members, and the community of allies for LGBTI health to walk with us.
context_page_description: The establishment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in the District of Columbia is a relatively recent occurrence, with the majority of advances in LGBT rights having taken place in the late 20th century and early 21st century. Along with the rest of the country, the District of Columbia recognizes and allows same-sex marriage. The percentage of same-sex households in the District of Columbia in 2008 was at 1.8%, the highest in the nation. This number had grown to 4.2% by early 2015.
  The District of Columbia is regarded as very accepting and tolerant of LGBT people and same-sex relationships, with a 2017 Public Religion Research Institute poll indicating that 78% of residents supported same-sex marriage. The District also explicitly bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and the use of conversion therapy on both minors and adults. Same-sex marriage legislation came into effect in March 2010, granting same-sex couples the right to marry, while domestic partnerships were legalized in 2002.
context_section_description: Sexual orientation and gender identity are both covered as protected classes under District law.
  Moreover, the District's anti-bullying law prohibits bullying on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, intellectual ability, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, place of residence or business, any other distinguishing characteristic, and association with a person, or group with any person, with one or more of the actual or perceived foregoing characteristics. The law also explicitly includes cyberbullying and harassment, and applies to every educational institution in the District.
  In May 2015, the discrimination ban was expended to include LGBT students attending religious schools.
caption: Capital Pride is held annually in June.
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